ScienceDaily: Top News

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• New insights into bacterial substitute for sex
• Promising biomarkers to predict suicide risk
• Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment
• Stimulated mutual annihilation: How to make a gamma-ray laser with positronium
• Missing piece of biogeochemical puzzle in aquifers discovered
• Blood pressure control, lifestyle changes key to preventing subsequent strokes
• Undersea warfare: Viruses hijack deep-sea bacteria at hydrothermal vents
• Nanoelectronics: Edgy look at 2-D molybdenum disulfide
• Age, general health, antidepressant use linked to eye disorders
• Whales hear us more than we realize: Sonar signal 'leaks' likely audible to some marine mammals
• Spinal cord neurons that control skilled limb movement identified
• Increased drought portends lower future Midwestern U.S. crop yields
• Delving deep into the brain: MRI sensor allows neuroscientists to map neural activity with molecular precision
• Climate change study reveals unappreciated impacts on biodiversity
• Breaking up water: Controlling molecular vibrations to produce hydrogen
• Decoding the chemical vocabulary of plants
• 'Remodelling' damaged nuclei: Discovery could lead to new treatments for accelerated aging disease
• Jupiter's moon Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice
• For some, money will not buy happiness: Neither life experiences nor material items make materialistic shoppers happier
• Compounds that control hemorrhagic viruses identified
• Nearby galaxy is a 'fossil' from the early universe
• Small changes could save structures, lives during tornadoes: Safe rooms, quality garage doors critical
• Alcohol use before pregnancy linked to intestinal birth defect
• First ever gravitationally lensed Type Ia supernovae discovered
• Stem cells from some infertile men form germ cells when transplanted into mice
• Humans have a nose for gender: Chemical cues influence perceptions of movement as more masculine or feminine
• Malnutrition during pregnancy may affect the health of future generations
• Staying power of HIV-fighting enzyme figured out
• New combination therapy developed for multiple myeloma
• Experimental drug prolongs life span in mice
• Unlocking mystery of thalidomide's malformation of limbs
• Accelerator for molecular machines discovered
• Antimicrobial edible films inhibit pathogens in meat
• Individual brain activity predicts tendency to succumb to daily temptations
• Killing Kindlin-3 to cure breast cancer: 'Blood' protein implicated
• New molecule links asthma, cancer; could aid in developing new treatments
• Climate change to intensify important African weather systems
• Australian tsunami database reveals threat to continent
• New rapid synthesis developed for bilayer graphene and high-performance transistors
• Tree rings reveal nightmare droughts in Western U.S.
• Low-fat diet helps fatigue in people with MS, study shows
• Amphibians in a vice: Climate change robs frogs, salamanders of refuge
• Network for tracking earthquakes exposes glacier activity: Accidental find offers big potential for research on Alaska's glaciers
• New tool to aid in dolphin strandings
• Novel regulator of key gene expression in cancer identified
• Cutting cancer to pieces: New research on bleomycin
• Playing pool with carbon atoms: How to change the crystal structure of graphene
• European seafloor survey reveals depth of marine litter problem
• Sample of a frog's slimy skin predicts susceptibility to disease
• New version of old MS drug performs well in clinical trial
• Brain, cognitive reserve protect long-term against cognitive decline, MS researchers find

New insights into bacterial substitute for sex Posted: 01 May 2014 04:26 PM PDT Bacteria don't have sex as such, but they can mix their genetic material by pulling in DNA from dead bacterial cells and inserting these into their own genome. New research has found that this process -- called recombination -- is more complex than was first thought. The findings could help us understand why bacteria which cause serious diseases are able to evade vaccines and rapidly become drug-resistant.

Promising biomarkers to predict suicide risk Posted: 01 May 2014 04:26 PM PDT The stress-diathesis theory of suicide suggests a predisposition or diathesis interacts with stressful life experiences and acute psychiatric illness to cause suicidal behavior. The theory explains why only a small minority of individuals are at risk of taking their own lives after exposure to such stressors. The authors of a new article discuss the causes of the diathesis, or predisposition, to suicidal behavior, which may include genetic effects and the long-term impact on the brain and behavior of early life adversity (eg, physical and sexual abuse).

Around 60% of people who contemplate or attempt suicide do not receive treatment Posted: 01 May 2014 04:26 PM PDT The key psychological factors that may contribute to, or protect against, suicidal behavior include personality differences, cognitive factors, and negative life events such as serious physical illness, as well as current psychological treatments. Evidence suggests that about 60% of people struggling with suicidal thoughts or behavior do not receive any help, and, surprisingly, there is relatively little evidence for the effectiveness of treatments received by those who do.

Stimulated mutual annihilation: How to make a gamma-ray laser with positronium Posted: 01 May 2014 01:56 PM PDT Theorists expect that positronium, a sort of 'atom' consisting of an electron and an anti-electron, can be used to make a powerful gamma-ray laser. Scientists now report detailed calculations of the dynamics of a positronium BEC. This work is the first to account for effects of collisions between different positronium species. These collisions put important constraints on gamma-ray laser operation.

Missing piece of biogeochemical puzzle in aquifers discovered Posted: 01 May 2014 01:56 PM PDT New research may dramatically shift our understanding of the complex dance of microbes and minerals that takes place in aquifers deep underground. This dance affects groundwater quality, the fate of contaminants in the ground and the emerging science of carbon sequestration.

Blood pressure control, lifestyle changes key to preventing subsequent strokes Posted: 01 May 2014 01:56 PM PDT Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and irregular heart rhythms are key to stroke survivors avoiding another stroke. Updated guidelines emphasize lifestyle management, including diet, exercise and weight management. Other important updates affect management of narrowed neck arteries and irregular heartbeat.

Undersea warfare: Viruses hijack deep-sea bacteria at hydrothermal vents Posted: 01 May 2014 12:10 PM PDT More than a mile beneath the ocean's surface, as dark clouds of mineral-rich water billow from seafloor hot springs called hydrothermal vents, unseen armies of viruses and bacteria wage war.

Nanoelectronics: Edgy look at 2-D molybdenum disulfide Posted: 01 May 2014 12:10 PM PDT Researchers have recorded the first observations of a strong nonlinear optical resonance along the edges of single layers of molybdenum disulfide that could be key to the use of this and similar 2-D semiconductors in future nanoelectronic devices.

Age, general health, antidepressant use linked to eye disorders Posted: 01 May 2014 12:10 PM PDT Abnormal binocular vision, which involves the way eyes work together as a team, increases dramatically as we age, according to research. The study also found a correlation between this condition, general health and antidepressant use. As many as 27 per cent of adults in their sixties have an actual binocular vision or eye movement disorder. That number rises to 38 per cent for those over age 80. About 20 per cent of the general population suffers from a binocular vision disorder, which affects depth perception and therefore may increase the risk of falls.

Whales hear us more than we realize: Sonar signal 'leaks' likely audible to some marine mammals Posted: 01 May 2014 12:09 PM PDT Killer whales and other marine mammals likely hear sonar signals more than we've known. That's because commercially available sonar systems, which are designed to create signals beyond the range of hearing of such animals, also emit signals known to be within their hearing range, scientists have discovered.

Spinal cord neurons that control skilled limb movement identified Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Two types of neurons that enable the spinal cord to control skilled forelimb movement have been found by researchers. The first is a group of excitatory interneurons that are needed to make accurate and precise movements; the second is a group of inhibitory interneurons necessary for achieving smooth movement of the limbs. The findings are important steps toward understanding normal human motor function and potentially treating movement disorders that arise from injury or disease.

Increased drought portends lower future Midwestern U.S. crop yields Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Increasingly harsh drought conditions in the US Midwest's Corn Belt may take a serious toll on corn and soybean yields over the next half-century, according to new research. Corn yields could drop by 15 to 30 percent, according to the paper's estimates.

Delving deep into the brain: MRI sensor allows neuroscientists to map neural activity with molecular precision Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT An MRI sensor now allows neuroscientists to map neural activity with molecular precision. This is the first time anyone has been able to map neural signals with high precision over large brain regions in living animals, offering a new window on brain function, says the lead researcher. The new work focused on the study of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region called the ventral striatum, which is involved in motivation, reward, and reinforcement of behavior.

Climate change study reveals unappreciated impacts on biodiversity Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT The tropics ill be highly affected by local changes in temperature and precipitation, leading to novel climates with no current analogues in the planet. These results expose the complexities of climate change effects on biodiversity and the challenges in predicting and preserving natural ecosystems in a changing Earth.

Breaking up water: Controlling molecular vibrations to produce hydrogen Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Converting methane into hydrogen is crucial for clean energy and agriculture. This reaction requires water and a catalyst. Scientists have now used a novel laser approach to control specific vibrations of a water molecule, which can affect the efficiency of the reaction.

Decoding the chemical vocabulary of plants Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Plants spend their entire lifetime rooted to one spot. When faced with a bad situation, such as a swarm of hungry herbivores or a viral outbreak, they have no option to flee but instead must fight to survive. What is the key to their defense? Chemistry. Understanding how plants evolved this prodigious chemical vocabulary has been a longstanding goal in plant biology.

'Remodelling' damaged nuclei: Discovery could lead to new treatments for accelerated aging disease Posted: 01 May 2014 11:22 AM PDT Scientists have identified a key chemical that can repair the damage to cells which causes a rare but devastating disease involving accelerated aging. As well as offering a promising new way of treating the condition, known as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, the discovery could help in the development of drugs against cancer and other genetic diseases and might also suggest ways to alleviate diseases that we associate with normal aging.

Jupiter's moon Ganymede may harbor 'club sandwich' of oceans and ice Posted: 01 May 2014 11:07 AM PDT The largest moon in our solar system, a companion to Jupiter named Ganymede, might have ice and oceans stacked up in several layers like a club sandwich, according to new NASA-funded research that models the moon's makeup.

For some, money will not buy happiness: Neither life experiences nor material items make materialistic shoppers happier Posted: 01 May 2014 10:26 AM PDT Many shoppers, regardless of whether they buy life experiences or material items, are no happier following the purchase than they were before, a new study finds. These shoppers -- about a third of the population -- appear to be an exception to previous research that has found buying experiences will make an individual happier. Researchers found the happiness boost from experiences is often negated for material buyers because the purchase doesn't reflect their personality.

Compounds that control hemorrhagic viruses identified Posted: 01 May 2014 10:26 AM PDT Compounds that could reduce the ability of viruses that cause diseases such as Ebola, rabies, HIV and Lassa fever to spread infection have been identified and developed by veterinarian scientists. People fear diseases such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, rabies and HIV for good reason; they have high mortality rates and few, if any, possible treatments. As many as 90 percent of people who contract Ebola, for instance, die of the disease. These new prototypic compounds have the potential to one day serve as broad-spectrum anti-viral drugs.

Nearby galaxy is a 'fossil' from the early universe Posted: 01 May 2014 10:26 AM PDT Scientists analyzed the chemical elements in the faintest known galaxy, called Segue 1, and determined that it is effectively a fossil galaxy left over from the early universe. Stars form from gas clouds and their composition mirrors the chemical composition of the galactic gas from which they were born.

Small changes could save structures, lives during tornadoes: Safe rooms, quality garage doors critical Posted: 01 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Surviving a tornado in a wood-frame residential home is enhanced by an intact roof and standing walls, but light-weight garage doors can be the weak link to allowing high winds and pressure changes into a home that can lead to the removal of the roof and collapsed walls, according to a study of damage left behind by a powerful tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, in 2013.

Alcohol use before pregnancy linked to intestinal birth defect Posted: 01 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Women should refrain from drinking alcohol before they try to become pregnant, according to maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Alcohol is associated with an increased risk for mental delays, cardiac anomalies and facial clefting in babies. In a recent study, researchers also found that alcohol is linked to gastroschisis, a birth defect of the baby's abdominal wall. "Preconception programs focused on alcohol abstinence may help to reverse the increasing incidence of this birth defect worldwide," said one researcher.

First ever gravitationally lensed Type Ia supernovae discovered Posted: 01 May 2014 10:25 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered three distant exploding stars that have been magnified by the immense gravity of foreground galaxy clusters, which act like 'cosmic lenses.' These supernovae are the first of their type ever to be observed magnified in this way and they offer astronomers a powerful tool to check the prescription of these massive lenses.

Stem cells from some infertile men form germ cells when transplanted into mice Posted: 01 May 2014 09:34 AM PDT Stem cells made from the skin of adult, infertile men yield primordial germ cells -- cells that normally become sperm -- when transplanted into the reproductive system of mice, according to new research.

Humans have a nose for gender: Chemical cues influence perceptions of movement as more masculine or feminine Posted: 01 May 2014 09:34 AM PDT The human body produces chemical cues that communicate gender to members of the opposite sex, according to new research. Whiffs of the active steroid ingredients (androstadienone in males and estratetraenol in females) influence our perceptions of movement as being either more masculine or more feminine. The effect, which occurs completely without awareness, depends on both our biological sex and our sexual orientations.

Malnutrition during pregnancy may affect the health of future generations Posted: 01 May 2014 09:34 AM PDT New research reveals how environmental factors in the womb can predispose not only the mother's own offspring but also the grand-offspring to metabolic disorders like liver disease. Researchers found for pregnant mice that are malnourished that their offspring are at first growth restricted and have low birth weight but then go on to become obese and diabetic as they age. Strikingly, the offspring of the growth-restricted males are predisposed to metabolic abnormalities.

Staying power of HIV-fighting enzyme figured out Posted: 01 May 2014 09:34 AM PDT Biochemists have figured out what is needed to activate and sustain the virus-fighting activity of an enzyme found in CD4+ T cells, the human immune cells infected by HIV. The discovery could launch a more effective strategy for preventing the spread of HIV.

New combination therapy developed for multiple myeloma Posted: 01 May 2014 08:23 AM PDT Each year, more than 25,000 Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer that often develops resistance to therapies. However, researchers are reporting promising results from laboratory experiments testing a new combination therapy that could potentially overcome the resistance hurdle.

Experimental drug prolongs life span in mice Posted: 01 May 2014 08:23 AM PDT Scientists newly identified a protein's key role in cell and physiological aging and have developed an experimental drug that inhibits the protein's effect and quadrupled the lifespan in a mouse model of accelerated aging. Their lungs and vascular system were protected from rapid aging. The experimental drug could potentially be used to treat human diseases that cause accelerated aging such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes and HIV infection and even extend someone's healthy life.

Unlocking mystery of thalidomide's malformation of limbs Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT Shortly after thalidomide was released to market in the 1950s, a reported 10,000 infants were born with an extreme form of a rare congenital syndrome -- phocomelia -- which caused death in 50 percent of cases. Now, half a century later, new research has identified a regulator responsible for the malformation of limbs in phocomelia, pinpointing a specific target for possible future intervention.

Accelerator for molecular machines discovered Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT How hard can it be to make a wheel rotate in a machine? Very hard actually, when the wheel sits in one of those nano-small molecular machines that are predicted to be running our future machines. But before the molecular machines become part of our daily lives, researchers must be able to control them. Scientists have now solved part of this problem.

Antimicrobial edible films inhibit pathogens in meat Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT Antimicrobial agents incorporated into edible films applied to foods to seal in flavor, freshness and color can improve the microbiological safety of meats, according to new research.

Individual brain activity predicts tendency to succumb to daily temptations Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT Activity in areas of the brain related to reward and self-control may offer neural markers that predict whether people are likely to resist or give in to temptations, like food, in daily life, according to new research.

Killing Kindlin-3 to cure breast cancer: 'Blood' protein implicated Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT A protein believed to be limited to the hematopoietic system, called Kindlin-3, has been identified as a major player in both the formation and spread of breast cancer to other organs. This discovery could open the door to an entirely new class of breast cancer drugs that targets this protein's newly found activity.

New molecule links asthma, cancer; could aid in developing new treatments Posted: 01 May 2014 08:17 AM PDT A newly discovered molecule provides a new drug target for controlling both asthma-induced muscle thickening and cancerous tumor growth. This molecule, called "microRNA-10a," normally helps genes produce proteins or make copies of themselves, also play an important role in the growth or overgrowth of human airway smooth muscle cells and some forms of cancer.

Climate change to intensify important African weather systems Posted: 01 May 2014 07:12 AM PDT Climate change could strengthen African easterly waves, which could in turn have consequences for rainfall in the Sahel region of northern Africa, formation of Atlantic hurricanes and dust transport across the Atlantic Ocean.

Australian tsunami database reveals threat to continent Posted: 01 May 2014 07:11 AM PDT Australia's coastline has been struck by up to 145 possible tsunamis since prehistoric times, triple the previously estimated number, a new study reveals. The largest recorded inundation event in Australia was caused by an earthquake off Java in 2006. The continent was also the site of the oldest known tsunami in the world -- an asteroid impact 3.47 billion years ago. Details of the 145 modern day and prehistoric events are outlined in a revised tsunami database.

New rapid synthesis developed for bilayer graphene and high-performance transistors Posted: 01 May 2014 07:11 AM PDT A research team has demonstrated a rapid synthesis technique for large-area Bernal -- or AB -- stacked bilayer graphene films that can open up new pathways for digital electronics and transparent conductor applications.

Tree rings reveal nightmare droughts in Western U.S. Posted: 01 May 2014 07:11 AM PDT Scientists extended Utah's climate record back to 1429 using tree rings. They found Utah's climate has seen extreme droughts, including one that lasted 16 years. If history is repeated in the rapidly growing Western states, the water supply would run out based on current consumption.

Low-fat diet helps fatigue in people with MS, study shows Posted: 01 May 2014 07:11 AM PDT People with multiple sclerosis who for one year followed a plant-based diet very low in saturated fat had much less MS-related fatigue at the end of that year -- and significantly less fatigue than a control group of people with MS who didn't follow the diet, according to a study. "Fatigue can be a debilitating problem for many people living with relapsing-remitting MS," said one researcher. "So this study's results -- showing some notable improvement in fatigue for people who follow this diet -- are a hopeful hint of something that could help many people with MS."

Amphibians in a vice: Climate change robs frogs, salamanders of refuge Posted: 01 May 2014 07:09 AM PDT Amphibians in the West's high-mountain areas find themselves caught between climate-induced habitat loss and predation from introduced fish. A novel combination of tools could help weigh where amphibians are in the most need of help.

Network for tracking earthquakes exposes glacier activity: Accidental find offers big potential for research on Alaska's glaciers Posted: 01 May 2014 04:59 AM PDT Alaska's seismic network records thousands of quakes produced by glaciers, capturing valuable data that scientists could use to better understand their behavior, but instead their seismic signals are set aside as oddities. The current earthquake monitoring system could be 'tweaked' to target the dynamic movement of the state's glaciers.

New tool to aid in dolphin strandings Posted: 01 May 2014 04:50 AM PDT The cause of dolphin strandings has long been a mystery but a new study shows that clues about survival rates after release may be found in the sea mammal's blood. The study analyzed blood work and body condition values from stranded common dolphins and compared them with survival rates after release. Responders in the field are now using the blood and health data to make better release decisions and predict survival outcomes. "The establishment of these blood values provides a window into the overall health of the dolphin," said the paper's lead author. "Now we have a way to predict which stranded dolphins have a better chance of survival after release and this can help triage care."

Novel regulator of key gene expression in cancer identified Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT A key genetic switch linked to the development, progression and outcome of cancer has been discovered by scientists, a finding that may lead to new targets for cancer therapies. The switch, a string of nucleotides dubbed a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), does not code for proteins like regular RNA. Instead, the scientists found, this particular lncRNA acts as an on/off switch for a key gene whose excessive activity is tied to inflammation and cancer, COX-2.

Cutting cancer to pieces: New research on bleomycin Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT Bleomycin's ability to cut through double-stranded DNA in cancerous cells, like a pair of scissors, has been described in a new article. Such DNA cleavage often leads to cell death in particular types of cancer cells. Bleomycin is part of a family of structurally related antibiotics produced by the bacterium, Streptomyces verticillus. Three potent versions of the drug, labeled A2 , A5 and B2 are the primary forms in clinical use against cancer.

Playing pool with carbon atoms: How to change the crystal structure of graphene Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT A discovery brings graphene -- thin layers of pencil 'lead' -- one step closer to replacing silicon in future technologies such as faster and smaller microprocessors. Graphene consists of extremely thin sheets of graphite: when writing with a pencil, graphene sheets slough off the pencil's graphite core and stick to the page. If placed under a high-powered electron microscope, graphene reveals its sheet-like structure of cross-linked carbon atoms, resembling chicken wire.

European seafloor survey reveals depth of marine litter problem Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT A major new survey of the seafloor has found that even in the deepest ocean depths you can find bottles, plastic bags, fishing nets and other types of human litter. The litter was found throughout the Mediterranean, and all the way from the continental shelf of Europe to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge 2,000 kilometers from land. Litter is a problem in the marine environment as it can be mistaken for food and eaten by some animals or can entangle coral and fish -- a process known as "ghost fishing."

Sample of a frog's slimy skin predicts susceptibility to disease Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:27 PM PDT A simple sample of the protective mucus layer that coats a frog's skin can now be analyzed to determine how susceptible the frog is to disease, thanks to a new technique. The findings could help scientists successfully reintroduce endangered amphibians into the wild by reducing the chance that the amphibians will be killed by diseases that may have played a role in the species' original declines.

New version of old MS drug performs well in clinical trial Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:25 PM PDT Tests of a new long-acting version of one of the oldest multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs on the market show it worked significantly better than placebo in reducing the number of patient relapses and developments of new or active lesions, researchers report. Most important, they add, the updated version was effective even though injections were given every two weeks instead of every other day, and it appears that fewer patients develop resistance to it.

Brain, cognitive reserve protect long-term against cognitive decline, MS researchers find Posted: 30 Apr 2014 12:17 PM PDT MS researchers have found brain reserve and cognitive reserve confer long-term protective effect against cognitive decline. In this study, memory, cognitive efficiency, vocabulary (a measure of intellectual enrichment/cognitive reserve), brain volume (a measure of brain reserve), and disease progression on MRI, were evaluated in 40 patients with MS at baseline and at 4.5-year followup. After controlling for disease progression, scientists looked at the impact of brain volume and intellectual enrichment on cognitive decline.

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